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Slimdek residential pattern book

Book · January 2012

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.15763.89124

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Document title
Slimdek®
Optional residential pattern book
subheading
For multi-storey residential buildings

1
Introduction
to Slimdek®
Introduction to Slimdek®
The Slimdek® construction system 1

Technical aspects of Slimdek®

Introduction 3
Asymmetric Slimflor ® Beams (ASB) 3
Deep decking 4
Openings in the slab 5
Edge beams 6
Tie members 8
Connections 8
Columns 9
Discontinuous columns 10
Slimdek ® in an unbraced structure 10
Fire resistance 11
Acoustic insulation 11
Attachment of cladding to edge beams 13
Service integration 14

The application of Slimdek®

Chosen building for study 15
Building form 16
Structural grids 17
Plan form and room layouts 18
Floor layout 22
Structural options 22
Material usage 28

Steel balconies and parapets

Types of balcony 29
Balcony attachments in Slimdek ® 30
Parapets and balustrades 32

References 35 36

Figure 1.1 6 storey apartment block at Portishead Marina.

2
2
Slimdek® is a shallow depth steel floor system that
offers particular advantages in multi-storey
residential buildings.
Steel framed construction has for some years
dominated the UK market for multi-storey
commercial buildings due to its cost, speed
and quality benefits. The proven values of
structural steelwork are now being taken
advantage of in the fast growing multi-storey
residential building market. The Slimdek®
floor system from Tata Steel offers particular
advantages in multi-storey residential
buildings. It provides a shallow floor depth
and can achieve 60 minutes fire resistance
with no added protection.
New research has also shown that Slimdek®
separating floors comfortably meet the
acoustic insulation requirements of the new
Part E (2003) Building Regulations.
Figure 1.2 4 and 6 storey apartment buildings at Penarth Marina, Cardiff.
Slimdek® floor system
Slimdek® is a fully engineered floor solution
that has been developed to offer cost-effective
shallow-depth floors for multi-storey steel
framed buildings with grids of up to 9m x
9m. The system simplifies the planning and
servicing of a building – resulting in significant
cost and speed of construction benefits.
Reductions in floor depth of up to 400mm
per storey, compared with conventional
construction, can be achieved using Slimdek®.
This offers the potential for extra floors to be
accommodated within a given building height
or alternatively a reduction in total building
height and consequent savings on envelope
costs.
Slimdek® floors achieve inherent fire resistance
of up to 60 minutes with no added fire
protection, reducing costs and speeding up
programme times. The relative light weight
of steel frames also leads to savings on
foundation costs.
Slimdek® plan form and room layouts. Page 17.
3
Slimdek® residential pattern book Introduction to Slimdek®

Figure 1.3 Components of Slimdek®

The key features of the system are:

● A shallow composite slab, which provides Slimdek® has been widely employed in the This brochure focuses on the practical
excellent load resistance, diaphragm action commercial sector, and its advantages are application of Slimdek® in a mixed-use
and robustness. now being realised in residential applications. residential and commercial building in an
● An Asymmetric Slimflor® Beam (ASB), which It has been used in major residential projects urban area. This building type allows us to
achieves efficient composite action without in Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff, Portsmouth, examine a variety of design and detailing
the need for shear studs.  Bristol and London. Recent examples of issues. It is a six-storey building, with car
● An inherent fire resistance of up to residential building projects are illustrated in parking below ground and retail outlets at
60 minutes with ASB fire-engineered Figures 1.1 and 1.2. ground-floor level. The same floor grid is
(ASB (FE)) sections.  used for the car park and apartments, which
● Lighter, thinner web ASBs, which can be Slimdek® can be combined with other removes the need for a transfer structure.
used unprotected in buildings requiring components, such as rectangular hollow Two plan forms are illustrated, to show
up to 30 minutes fire resistance or in fire- sections (RHS) for columns and edge beams, the versatility that exists with Slimdek®
protected applications.  light steel infill walls and separating walls that construction.
● ComFlor® 225 deep decking, which can span are directly supported by the composite floor,
up to 6.5m without propping (depending as well as roof-top penthouses and mansard
on slab weight). roofs using light steel framing.
● Light weight construction.

Figure 1.4 Figure 1.5 Figure 1.6

Slimdek® installation on site. Typical column-free space achieved using Slimdek® used in a major renovation project
Slimdek®. in Covent Garden, London.

4
 Technical aspects of Slimdek®
Slimdek® comprises a composite slab, formed on deep decking, which
is supported on the bottom flange of Asymmetric Slimflor® Beams.

Slimdek® comprises a composite slab, formed

on ComFlor® 225 deep decking (designated
CF225 for clarity in some diagrams), which
is supported on the bottom flange of
Asymmetric Slimflor® Beams (ASB) – see Figure
1.3. The typical span capabilities of ASB beams
and deep composite slabs in Slimdek® are set
out in Table 2.1.

Asymmetric Slimflor® Beams

The Asymmetric Slimflor® Beam (ASB) is a
hot-rolled section in which the degree of
asymmetry between the widths of the top and
bottom flanges is approximately 60%. The top
flange has a raised rib pattern rolled into it to
provide composite action with the concrete
encasement, without the aid of a mechanical Slimdek® supported by ASBs.
shear connector.
without any additional fire protection, Table 2.2 is defined either by 35mm cover to
A range of 10 ASB beams is manufactured whereas ASB beams achieve 30 minutes fire the ASB or 70mm topping to the decking (this
with the properties given in Table 2.2. Fire- resistance, increasing to 120 minutes when topping depth does not reflect any acoustic
engineered ASB beams (designated as additional protection is applied to the soffit. requirement). A view through an ASB beam
ASB(FE)) achieve 60 minutes fire resistance For construction the minimum slab depth in and the composite slab is shown in Figure 1.3.

Table 2.1 Typical span capabilities of Table 2.2 Dimensions of ASB beams and minimum slab depths.
Width ofASB
Flange Thickness Minimum
beams in Slimdek®.
h Slab Designation Mass Depth Width of flange Thickness Minimum Slab
Top Beam
Bottom Web Flange
Beam Depthspacing
Span Beam Top Bottom Web Flange Depth
Designation
mm mm mm mm(m) mm(m) kg/m mm mm mm mm mm mm

203 Fire Resistance

313 of40
60 mins 40 340 300 ASB (FE) 249 249 342 203 313 40 40 340

183 280 ASB

293 (FE) 100 20 406.0 340 6.0 300 ASB 196 195 342 183 293 20 40 340

195 280 ASB

305 (FE) 136 32 297.5 325 6.0 300 ASB (FE) 185 185 320 195 305 32 29 325

179 300 ASB

289(FE) 153 16 327.5 325 7.5* 300 ASB 155 155 326 179 289 16 32 325

190 300 ASB

300(FE) 185 27 249.0 320 6.0 300 ASB (FE) 153 153 310 190 300 27 24 320

190 300 ASB

300(FE) 249 25 229.0 300 9.0* 280 ASB (FE) 136 136 288 190 300 25 22 300

178 Fire Resistance

288 280 ASB 124 124 296 178 288 13 26 300
of13
30 mins**26 300
176 280 ASB
28674 11 227.0 300 6.0 280 ASB 105 105 288 176 286 11 22 300

184 280 ASB

294105 19 167.5 295 6.0 280 ASB (FE) 100 100 276 184 294 19 16 295

175 280 ASB

285124 10 147.5 295 7.5* 280 ASB 74 74 272 175 285 10 14 295

300 ASB 155 9.0 6.0 Notes: ASB (FE) are fire engineeed sections

300 ASB 196 9.0 9.0*

* Propped slab during construction

** Additional fire protection required for R60

5
Slimdek® residential pattern book Technical aspects of Slimdek®

Deep decking 600

100 400
Deep steel decking (ComFlor® 225) spans
240
between the bottom flange of the ASB beams 30
8
and supports the wet concrete during
30
construction. The embossments formed in the
7 Horizontal
decking achieve excellent composite action ribs
Service hanger
with the concrete, assisted by bar 37 15 35 (typical detail)
reinforcement. Light mesh reinforcement is
195 Vertical
provided in the concrete topping for crack embossments
control purposes. 30 35

30 33
A cross section of ComFlor® 225 is shown in
40 100
Figure 2.1. Each decking element is 1.25mm
thick and 600mm wide and has special
Figure 2.1 Cross-section through ComFlor®225 deep decking showing service attachments.
attachment points for service and ceiling
hangers. The ComFlor® 225 decking is
provided with end diaphragms and cut-outs 50 Deck cut-out 15

to allow placement and retention of the

concrete around the ASB beams, as illustrated Slab
topping Cover
in Figure 2.2.
to top
of beam
A cross-section through the composite slab in 225
Figure 2.3 shows the positioning of the bar
reinforcement. A minimum concrete cover of
80mm over the decking ensures fire resistance
End diaphragm
and acoustic insulation, although it may be
necessary to increase this cover depending on 50 nominal bearing

the size of the ASB selected (see Table 2.2). The Figure 2.2 Detailing of ComFlor® 225 decking at ASBBar size (diameter, mm) for Span of slab (m)
beams.
typical slab depth for residential applications is
300mm to 330mm, which creates a floor depth Mesh reinforcementBar size (diameter, mm) for Span of slab (m)
of approximately 400mm when combined
Slab depth (mm)
with acoustic insulating layers and a
5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 8.0 8.5 9.0
suspended ceiling. The typical span
capabilities of deep composite slabs using 300 16 16 16 20 20 25 32 N.A.
ComFlor® 225 decking are presented in Table 16 16 20 20 20 25 32 32
320 50
2.3. Temporary propping is not generally 16, 20, 25 or
340 16 20 20 20
Main reinforcement 25 25 32
32 diameter32
required for spans up to 6m. Spans may be Axis
increased to 9m if two lines of temporary Propping No propping Single line props required Double line props required
generally
props are used during construction. Services
can be passed through openings in the ASB Figure
Blue2.3
areaCross-section through
shows propping composite
requirements slab.slab.
for each
beams and between the ribs of the slabs. N.A. = not generally applicable because natural frequency of slab is less than 5Hz.
Table 2.3 Reinforcement requirements (bar diameter) in deep composite
slabs for 60 minutes fire resistance. 
Slab depth (mm) Bar size (diameter, mm) for Span of slab (m)

5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 8.0 8.5 9.0

300 16 16 16 20 20 25 32 N.A.

320 16 16 20 20 20 25 32 32

340 16 20 20 20 25 25 32 32

Propping No propping Single line props required Double line props required
generally

Blue area shows propping requirements for each slab.

N.A. = not generally applicable because natural frequency of slab is less than 5Hz.

6
 ASB beam span/16
beam T12 bar x for composite
beam span/
1500 long 300 beam design
16*500

Openings in the slab Opening Minimum A142 Additional top

1000 mesh throughout reinforcement
Opening may be positioned between the ribs
Additional
of the decking without affecting the load- 1000 bottom
bearing capacity of the slab. The maximum reinforcement
B to adjacent ribs
width of these openings is 400mm. Wider (by engineer)
openings may cut through one or more ribs, 400

in which case it is necessary to reinforce the

Opening
slab to distribute the forces to the adjacent
A A
ribs. A standard edge trim is pre-fixed as a box 2000
around the opening.  
Centre-line
of ribs
The maximum recommended size of
beam span/16
opening is 1000mm x 2000mm before for composite
B beam design
additional trimmer beams are required.
Details of permitted openings and additional ASB
beam
reinforcement around the openings are Curtailed Transverse End Transverse
bar bar diaphragm bar
presented in Figure 2.4.

Openings next to columns should be detailed

Temporary Edge trim Temporary Temporary Edge trim Temporary
to avoid the ASB and tie members. For these prop fixed as 'box' prop prop fixed as 'box' prop
cases, the close proximity of the openings
Section A - A Section B - B
to the ASB does not affect the composite
strength to the same degree as when Figure 2.4 Detailing of openings in the slab in Slimdek®.
openings occur in the span. As a consequence,
some relaxation of the dimensions given
in Figure 2.4 is possible. The recommended
minimum distance from a grid line to the Column (UKC) Service pipe
Mesh (max. 150 dia.)
centre-line of a 150mm opening is 225mm,
reinforcement
or 200mm for a smaller opening. It is also
possible to accommodate a minor notch in
the bottom flange of the ASB near the end
connection to provide an opening for a service CF225
pipe, but this should be detailed in order to decking

allow for fabrication before delivery to site. A A A

detail showing the provision of a service pipe Setting out level

close to an ASB near a column is presented

ASB
in Figure 2.5.
Tie beam Welded
stiffener

225 min.

Service
Connecting pipe
bolts

225 min.

Welded stiffener
Tie beam

Section A - A : Plan view

Figure 2.5 Provision of a service pipe close to an ASB in a Slimdek® floor near to a column.

7
Slimdek® residential pattern book Technical aspects of Slimdek®

Edge beams 10 mm dia. additional

10 mm dia. additional
L-bars at 300 centres
L-bars at 300 centres
If the configuration of windows and cladding 200 55 1000
200 55 1000
allow then a downstand beam can be used
as an edge beam. However, where this is

30
not possible then two alternative forms of

30
edge beam are recommended – ASB or RHS
(Rectangular Hollow Sections).
50

150
50
150

ASB beams may be designed in two alternative

configurations:

1. ASB encased in concrete for fire resistance

and effective composite action, as illustrated Edge
Edge
trim
in Figure 2.6.  In this case, the edge of the trim End diaphragm A142 mesh
End diaphragm A142 mesh
slab is detailed at 200mm from the centre-line Figure 2.6 Encased ASB details at edge beam.
of the beam to allow for fixing of the edge
trim, and placement of the concrete and L-bar
reinforcement.
20 L-bar (10 )
20 L-bar (10 )
bolt hole at 300 centres A142 mesh
2. ASB partially encased in concrete, as bolt hole at 300 centres A142 mesh
illustrated in Figure 2.7. In this case, no
30

composite action is developed and the fire

30

resistance is reduced to 30 minutes, unless

additional protection is applied. The edge of
the slab may be detailed at 100mm from the
centre-line of the beam (actual distance is half Mineral
Mineral
the flange width or 95mm). To anchor the slab, wool
wool
infill
an L-bar is placed in holes pre-drilled in the infill
ASB. The edge trim allows for a thin concrete
topping.
End diaphragm
End diaphragm
The advantage of the second option is that
ASB cut away by 55 (if necessary)
any eccentricities in the column connection ASB cut away by 55 (if necessary)
are reduced. However, the disadvantage is that
Figure 2.7 Partially encased ASB details at edge beam.
the projecting flange of the ASB has to be cut
away (depending on the cladding system), and
additional insulation is required to reduce
‘cold bridging’.

8
Rectangular Hollow Sections (RHS) may be
used as either composite or non-composite Rigid insulation in Light steel stud wall
external cavity with 2 layers of gypsum board
edge beams. Non-composite beams are
Optional additional Separating strip
illustrated in Figure 2.8. RHS edge beams insulation (to reduce Proprietary
provide an attractive option because of U value) battened
Acoustic sealant raft floor
their ease of detailing at the façade line. Cavity
Furthermore, their high torsional stiffness
facilitates eccentric connections, for example,
of cantilever balconies. When the edge beam
is used only as a cladding support, torsional Halfen or similar
stiffness is still required because of the stainless steel
brickwork support
eccentric load from the cladding.
Cavity barrier to
floor/wall junction Deep composite
For composite construction, shear connectors 15 min. metal deck floor Resilient bars 12.5 plasterboard
may be welded to the top flange of the RHS to plasterboard timber battens,
External brickwork resilient strip Trapezoidal or metal frame
increase its spanning capabilities by composite tied to inner stud wall profile ceiling
Acoustic sealant
action. However, the slab depth needs to
Deflection head
be taken as 85mm above the RHS section,
which makes the 300mm RHS impractical in
composite construction (see Table 2.4). The Figure 2.8 Non-composite RHS edge beam supporting brickwork.
sizing of the RHS sections generally depends
on the orientation of the slab and the cladding
load. For scheme design purposes, the RHS
sizes given in Table 2.5 may be used. Table 2.4 Section dimensions of RHS Slimflor® edge beams.
Minimum Slab Depth (mm)+
Designation Thickness Mass * Depth
of RHS (mm) (kg/m) (mm) Non-composite Composite

8.0 70 215 295 295

200 x 150
10.0 79 215 295 295
(240 x 15 plate)
12.5 91 215 295 295
8.0 76 265 295 335
250 x 150
10.0 87 265 295 335
(240 x 15 plate)
12.5 100 265 295 335
8.0 94 315 300 N.A.
300 x 200
10.0 100 315 300 N.A.
(290 x 15 plate)
12.5 126 315 300 N.A.

* including 15 mm plate
+ Slab depth applies to R60 fire resistance

Table 2.5 Approximate section sizes of RHS edge beams supporting brickwork.

Beam span (m) < 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0

Non-composite 200 x 150 x 8 200 x 150 12.5 or 300 x 200 x 10 N.A.

250 x 150 x 10

Composite 200 x 150 x 8 200 x 150 x 10 200 x 150 x 12.5 200 x 150 x 12.5

Data for 6m span slab onto RHS

9
Slimdek® residential pattern book Technical aspects of Slimdek®

Tie members
Decking cut to suit Mesh reinforcement
setting-out requirement
Tie members are required to provide
robustness by tying columns at each floor.
Generally, tie members are in the form of
inverted Tees. Smaller UKB or RHS sections
with a welded plate are often used where the
tie beam supports other local loads. Figure Reinforcement
bar
2.9 illustrates a typical Tee section; this allows
for sufficient placement of a Z-section where 600
the deck layout is not in multiples of 600mm. ASB bottom flange Z section Tee section
cut from
The depth of the Tee is taken as not less than UKC or UKB
span/40 in order to avoid visible sag.   Figure 2.9 Inverted Tee section as a tie member.
The Tee section does not participate in
resisting loads applied to the slab, so
reinforcement is placed in the ribs adjacent
to the Tee. This does not generally require fire
protection, where it is partially encased in the ASB end plate
slab. The Tee may be attached by an end plate Perimeter UKC
to the column web or to a stiffener located
between the column flanges. This same
stiffener may act as a compression stiffener in
a moment-resisting connection to the major
axis of the column.
ASB
internal
beam
Connections
ASB edge beam
Slimdek® has been developed primarily as
a flooring system for braced steel-framed ASB edge beam
buildings. Typically, the beams and slabs
are analysed as simply supported elements.
Continuity, which is inherent within the Figure 2.10 External UKC section column connection to ASB edge beam.
system, is only partially used for the
serviceability criteria. It is possible to use the
ASB beam as part of a sway frame, provided
extended end plate connections are used.
In this case, columns must be analysed for flanges to avoid cutting back the ASB section. At RHS columns, it is often difficult to attach
combined bending and compression.   A typical external UKC column connection ASBs on adjacent sides. This may be achieved
with an ASB edge beam is shown in Figure by using alternate extended and flush end
Beam-to-column connections with ASB or 2.10, and in Figures 3.15 and 3.16. plates, as illustrated in Figure 2.12. 
RHS beams should generally be made by full This approach is only applicable for columns
or extended end plates in order to ensure For RHS columns, connections can be made with a minimum width of 200mm. In other
adequate shear and torsional resistance due using Flowdrill or Hollo-bolt connections. cases, welded T-stubs may be used to attach
to out-of-balance loads (primarily during Hollo-bolts require the formation of a hole the beams.
construction). For UKC section columns, beam- of 1.7 x bolt diameter. As a result of this, the
to-column connections are generally made maximum diameter is generally 20mm to
to the column flange. Where connections are allow for edge distances and gaps. A typical
made to the column web, it may be necessary external RHS column connection with a RHS
to weld a plate between the tips of the column Slimflor® edge beam is shown in Figure 2.11.

10
 Perimeter RHS Hollo-bolts
column (or UKC
with plates welded
across flange tips
for edge beam
connections)
RHS Slimflor®
edge beam
with 15 thick
flange plate
Internal
ASB
beam

Extended
end plate

Figure 2.11 External RHS column connection to a RHS Slimflor® edge beam.

Flowdrill or Flowdrill or
Hollo-bolts Hollo-bolts
15 end plate
A

Flange
cut away A

200 RHS 200 RHS

column column

a) Side view of ASB beam b) Cross-section A - A

Figure 2.12 End plate connections to RHS columns.

Columns
2 x 12.5 plasterboard
Universal Column (UKC) sections are
recommended for internal columns because of
their ease of connection. Rectangular Hollow
Section (RHS) columns can be used for fire
Non-loadbearing
resistance or for architectural reasons. For light steel stud
Vertical channel
example, RHS columns can be contained in (to attach wall ties)
the separating or façade walls, as illustrated in RHS column
Figure 2.13.
50 cavity

Resilient mineral wool

separating RHS and
light steel section

Insulation board

Figure 2.13 RHS column incorporated in façade wall (plan section).

11
Slimdek® residential pattern book Technical aspects of Slimdek®

Discontinuous columns
Columns can also be designed as storey-high
elements and attached to the flanges of the
ASB, as illustrated in Figure 2.14. This unusual
configuration is possible in medium-rise
buildings because the modest compression
forces can be transferred through the thick
web of the ASB to the concrete encasement.
In these cases, moment continuity can be
developed in the ASB to optimise
its performance. For more heavily loaded
columns, vertical stiffeners would be required
in the web of the ASB. When adopting this
approach, particular care and attention must
be paid to the design and detailing, especially
to ensure frame stability and resistance to
progressive collapse (through horizontal and
vertical tying, or by key element design).
Slimdek® in an unbraced structure The moment capacity of typical extended end
plate connections is summarised in Table 2.6
Vertical bracing can be eliminated in a
(moment capacities for specific ASB weights
structure with Slimdek® floors by designing the
may be obtained from the Slimdek® Manual).
connections between the ASBs and the
These moment capacities are relatively
columns as moment-resisting. Where UKC
insensitive to the ASB section size, as bending
columns are used, these connections should
of the end plate controls their design.
be made to the column flanges. Extended end
plates increase the effective depth of the
The design of ‘wind-moment’ frames is a
connection and increase its moment capacity.
special case where the connections are
A typical extended end plate connection is
treated as pinned under vertical load and
shown in Figure 2.15. For detailing purposes,
moment-resisting under wind loading. As a
dimension A should be taken as 44mm for
simple rule, the maximum number of storeys
ASB280 and 62mm for ASB300.
permitted in a ‘wind-moment’ frame should
not exceed the number of columns in the
RHS columns may be used, but the moment
direction in which the wind forces act (up to a
capacity of beam end connections are
maximum of six storeys). Therefore, for wind
generally less effective than for UKC sections,
acting on the front face of a building with four
except for the thicker wall sections.
columns across the width, the maximum
height is four storeys.

150 SHS For a rectangular plan building with wind

column acting on the short length, there are
RHS tie A
potentially more columns to resist the wind
loads along the building, and the maximum
height recommended is increased to six
200
storeys, provided that the columns are
120
orientated so that their stiffer direction is
50
along the building length. In this second
orientation, vertical bracing can be eliminated
tf 40
A
ASB 15 end in the façades, leading to large fenestrations
plate 150 SHS
column A and freedom of space planning.

75
a) Side view of ASB beam
d
75

50
150 SHS
RHS tie column
10
tf
300

Figure 2.15 Extended end plate connection

ASB to an ASB beam.

Table 2.6 Moment capacities (kNm) of extended end plate connections

150 SHS
column Column size kg/m ASB280 ASB300
x 46 81 85
b) Cross-section A - A
203 UKC x 52 86 90
Figure 2.14 ASB beams continuous over storey-high x 60 91 95
RHS columns in medium-rise buildings.
x 71 92 97
254 UKC x 73 92 97
x 89 92 97

Data: 15 end plate in S355 steel and M20 bolts

12
Fire resistance
The fire resistance of the ASBs is achieved by
partial encasement in the composite slab.
Generally, 60 minutes fire resistance can be
achieved by ASB sections, increasing up to 120
minutes if board materials, a suspended
ceiling or intumescent coatings, protect them.
The fire resistance of the deep composite slab
is achieved by bar reinforcement of the
minimum sizes shown in Table 2.7. The axis
distance defines the distance from the centre-
line of the reinforcing bar to the soffit of the
decking (see Figure 2.3). Mesh reinforcement
is placed in the topping at a minimum top
cover of 15mm. The reinforcement detailing
requirements are illustrated in Figure 2.3.
Acoustic insulation Masonry or double-leaf light steel separating
walls can be used in conjunction with the
Separating floors in Slimdek® are easily
Slimdek® floor. Double–leaf walls are generally
capable of providing the acoustic insulation
recommended because of the ease and speed
(both airborne and impact) required to meet
of construction and the elimination of wet
the new Part E (2003) Building Regulations.
trades on site. Typically, this type of wall
When combined with the prescribed floor and
comprises two leafs of studs (each 50 to 70mm
ceiling treatments the floor has been able to
deep) separated by a layer of mineral wool.
achieve Robust Detail (RD) status (E-FS-1). RD
The outer faces of the studs are fixed to double
status means that post-completion testing of
layers of plasterboard, to give an overall
the floor is not required. A typical cross section
thickness of around 250mm. Care should be
through a beam and slab showing the various
taken to ensure an adequate cavity width, and
layers is shown in Figure 2.16. Table 2.8
adequate densities for the materials used.
illustrates the excellent performance in robust
Specialist manufacturers have produced a
detail in-situ tests compared to the
number of proprietary wall and detail
requirements given in Part E of the Building
solutions.
Regulations.

18 thick tongued and grooved Proprietary batten

chipboard walking surface (or similar) with integral foam strip

Concrete floor slab with 280 ASB 100 Proprietary

Single skin 12.5 thick
ComFlor®225 deep decking resilient bars
plasterboard suspended ceiling

Figure 2.16 Cross-section through ASB beam showing acoustic insulating layers.

Table 2.7 Detailing requirements for deep composite slabs.

Parameter Fire resistance (mins)
60 or less 90 120
Min. slab depth 295 mm 305 mm 320 mm

Min. bar diameter 16 mm 20 mm 25 mm

Axis distance to bar 70 mm 90 mm 120 mm

Min mesh size in topping A142 A193 A252

Column size ASB280 ASB300

203 UC x 46 kg/m 81 85
x 52 kg/m 86 90
x 60 kg/m 91 95
13
x 71 kg/m 92 97
254 UC x 73 kg/m 92 97
Slimdek® residential pattern book Technical aspects of Slimdek®

Details of the attachment of a separating wall Table 2.8 Acoustic performance of Slimdek®.
to an ASB beam are illustrated in Figure 2.18.
Acoustic Test Data (dB)
A ‘deflection head’ allows for relative
Airborne sound reduction Impact sound
movement between the ASB and the DnT,w + Ctr
,
L nT,w
separating wall. Note that board present at
Part E >
_ 45 <
_ 62
the top of the wall is needed for fire as well as
acoustic purposes. Robust Detail >
_ 47 <
_ 57

One of the most crucial features with this type Slimdek® Performance (E-FS-1) (Range) 50-64 24-46
of wall is the interface between the wall head (Mean) 56 38
and the soffit of the slab, particularly when the
deck ribs do not run parallel to the wall. The
attachment of a light steel separating wall to
the soffit of a composite slab with ComFlor®
225 decking is illustrated in Figure 2.19.
Profiled mineral wool inserts are required to Proprietary
Platform floor Separating strip Separating strip battened
prevent both sound and fire passing through Acoustic sealant raft floor
the voids in the deck. Board beneath these Acoustic sealant

inserts also serves both fire and acoustic

purposes. When this detail is properly achieved
the wall can be expected to pass
Part E requirement.
Deep composite
steel decking
More information on expected acoustic
performance and typical construction details
can be found in the accompanying SCI 12.5 plasterboard Resilient bars or
timber battens
Publication P336 Acoustic Detailing for 1 layer of 15 plasterboard Acoustic sealant
or other fire-stopping
Multi-Storey Residential Buildings. material laid flat between ASB Light steel frame
and light steel channel separating wall
12.5 plasterboard
Deflection head
ceiling on proprietary
metal frame ceiling

Figure 2.18 Acoustic detail of ASB beam and light steel separating wall.

Platform floor Separating strip Separating strip Proprietary

battened
Acoustic sealant raft floor
Acoustic sealant

Pack with
Deep composite mineral wool
steel decking
2 layers of 19 mm
12.5 mm plasterboard
gypsum board
on proprietry metal frame

Acoustic
Additional mineral wool in sealant
ceiling void around junction Light steel frame
separating wall

Figure 2.19 Acoustic detail of separating wall transverse to composite slab.

14
Attachment of cladding to edge beams
Cladding attachments depend on the type
of cladding used and the type of edge beam.
For encased ASB beams, the centre-line of the
ASB is detailed at 200mm from the edge of the
slab (see Figure 2.6).
More detail on cladding systems and their
attachments is given in Figures 2.20 to 2.23.
For details on cladding attachments to RHS
edge beams, see Figure 2.8.

Rigid
Rigid
insulation
insulation Light
Light
steel
steel
stud
stud
wall
wall
with
with Breather
Breather
in in
external
external 2 layers
2 layers
of of
gypsum
gypsumboard
board paper
paper
cavity
cavity Sheating
Sheating
board
board
Separating
Separating
strip
strip

Acoustic
Acoustic
sealant
sealant
Cavity
Cavity Cladding
Cladding
railrail
Proprietary
Proprietary battened
battened onon
angle
angle
raftraft
floor
floor brackets
brackets Proprietary
Proprietarybattened
battened
Halfen
Halfenor or raftraft
floor
floor
similar
similar
stainless
stainless
steel
steel
brickwork
brickwork
support
support

Cladding
Cladding
Cavity
Cavitybarrier
barrier sheet
sheet
to to
floor/wall
floor/wall
junction
junction

Resilient
Resilient
bars,
bars, Deflection
Deflection Deep
Deep composite
composite
Optional
Optional Deep
Deep composite
composite head
head Resilient
Resilient
bars,
bars,
metal
metaldeck
deck
floor
floor timber
timberbattens
battens metal
metal
deck
deck
floor
floor
additional
additional or or
metal
metal timber
timberbattens
battens
insulation
insulation frame
frame
ceiling
ceiling 12.5
12.5
plasterboard
plasterboard or or
metal
metalframe
frame
(to(to
reduce
reduce 1515
min.min.
plasterboard
plasterboard ceiling
ceiling
U value)
U value) 1515
min.min.
resilient
resilient
strip
strip plasterboard
plasterboard
12.5
12.5
plasterboard
plasterboard resilient
resilient
strip
strip
External
External
brickwork
brickwork Acoustic
Acoustic
sealant
sealant Acoustic
Acoustic
sealant
sealant
tied
tied
to to
inner
inner
stud
studwall
wall Deflection
Deflectionhead
head

Figure 2.20 Detailing of brickwork support by ASB beams. Figure 2.22 Rain-screen cladding attachment in Slimdek®.

Rigid
Rigid
insulation
insulation
Breather
Breather
Rigid
Rigid
insulation
insulation Optional
Optionaladditional
additional
insulation
insulation
paper
paper
(with
(with
material
material
optional
optional Proprietary
Proprietary
sheathing
sheathingboard
board Separating
Separatingstrip
strip battened
battened
Platform
Platform
floor
floor Slimdek
Slimdek
floor
floor behind)
behind) Acoustic
Acousticsealant
sealant raftraft
floor
floor
Polymer
Polymer
based
based
render
render

Clay
Clay
tiletile
Fire
Fire
break
break cladding
cladding
system
system

1515
drained
drained
cavity
cavity
Deep
Deepcomposite
composite
Light
Light
steel
steel
frame
frame metal
metal
deck
deck floor Resilient
floor Resilient
bars,
bars,
non-loadbearing
non-loadbearing 12.5
12.5
plasterboard
plasterboard timber
timberbattens
battens
Fixing
Fixing
railrail stud
stud
wall
wall Drained
Drained1515 or or
metal
metalframe
frame
Acoustic
Acoustic sealant
sealant
ononpackers
packers cavity
cavity ceiling
ceiling
Sheathing
Sheathing
board
board 1515min.
min.
plasterboard
plasterboard
Deflection
Deflection head
head
Non-loadbearing
Non-loadbearing
light
light
steel
steel
frame
framestud
stud
wall
wall
Figure 2.21 Insulated render cladding attachment to ASB beams. Figure 2.23 Brick-tile cladding attachment in Slimdek®.

15
Slimdek® residential pattern book Technical aspects of Slimdek®

Service integration
● Openings in the slab for pipes and service
risers.
● Openings in the web of the ASB for
horizontal service distribution in the floor
zone.
● Trays embedded in the slab for horizontal
distribution of electrics or small diameter
pipes in the surface of the slab.
Large openings can be formed between the
ribs of the decking and through openings
in the ASB beams (subject to effective fire
compartmentation). Electrical trays should be
positioned to align with the ribs of the
decking so that they observe fire resistance
and acoustic insulation requirements
(see Figure 2.24).

300 max.
Horizontal
Opening in slab Mesh service tray

T12 bar 150 max. 50 max.

80 min.

60 min.

Opening in ASB 160 max.

320 max.
ASB bottom flange

Figure 2.24 Service openings and electrical trays in Slimdek®.

16
The application of Slimdek®

This section examines a typical mixed-use residential

building in steel using Slimdek® construction.

Our example building is a six-storey structure

with a roof-top penthouse, illustrated in Figure
3.1. The building design could be extended to
Penthouse ten-storeys without significant modifications
to the structure. The interior of the building
may be configured with apartments on
either side of a central corridor, referred to
as the ‘deep plan’ form, or with apartments
Flat Central Flat
Corridor configured across the full width of the building
around an access core, referred to as the
‘shallow plan’ form. See Figures 3.5 and 3.6.

Central
Flat Corridor Flat The building is be adapted for mixed use,
making provision for retail uses at ground floor
(by increasing the floor-to-floor height) and for
car parking at basement level. The length of
Central
Flat Corridor Flat the building is not defined, as the plan forms
are repeatable.

The flexible use of space provided by Slimdek®

Central
Flat Corridor Flat is illustrated in Figure 3.2.

Flat Central Flat

Corridor

Retail

Figure 3.2 Flexible space using Slimdek®.

Car Park

The building considered has three distinct

levels:
● Below-ground car-parking.

Figure 3.1 Deep plan form – cross-section through building. ● Retail or office level at first floor.

● Residential floors above.

The structural grid adopted is dictated by the

car park level, to avoid the use of an expensive
transfer structure. This is based on a three-
car bay (7.5m wide) along the façade, and
columns at 4.8m, 6.7m and 5.0m respectively
across the building (deep plan) or 3.9m, 7.2m
and 4.8m (shallow plan) to allow for sufficient
vehicular access.

17
Slimdek® residential pattern book The application of Slimdek®

Building form
The steel-framed apartment building has
the following characteristics:

Light steel walls

Light steel walls are used for:
● external walls to create a ‘rapid dry envelope’;

● compartment or separating walls between

apartments;
● internal walls within apartments.

No limit on building height

The building is six storeys high (plus penthouse and
car park levels). The ground floor can be adapted
for retail use. There is no limit on building height
when using Slimdek®, but four to ten storeys
is the sensible range for this type of residential
construction. Penthouse apartments are located at
roof level.

Acoustic insulation Utility servicing Prefabricated modules

Excellent acoustic insulation is achieved by the Servicing is rationalised by vertical risers in the Bathrooms are assumed to be prefabricated
Slimdek® floor with its resilient layers. core and horizontal routes through the floor slab. modules set into the slab to avoid mis-alignment
of the floors.

Minimal foundation costs

Foundations are located directly below the
columns. The lightweight steel construction
minimises foundation costs.

18

Minimal floor depth
Using Slimdek®, the floor depth (including a
suspended ceiling and battened floor) is typically
400mm.
A repeatable floor plan area
A repeatable floor plan area (for either plan form)
of approximately 20m x 16m is accessed from a
single braced core. Spans of 4.8m to 7.5m achieve
a sensible layout of apartments and rooms, which
may be reconfigured independently of the beam
lines. This allows a range of apartments with floor
areas from 60m2 to 120m2 to be created.
Structural grids
Optimum structural grids (i.e. column layout)
differ greatly between applications:
● Car parks – grids are normally based on 5m
(two-car spaces) or 7.5m (three-car spaces)
as in Figure 3.3.
● Residential buildings – grids are often based
on multiples of 600mm (4.2m being efficient
for studios).
● Commercial buildings – use grids based on
multiples of 1500mm (6m, 7.5m and 9m
being common column spacings).
From this it is apparent that, for a mixed-use
building, the column grids will not align
unless either the arrangement of car parking
space or residential accommodation is
modified. Alternatively, a steel or concrete
transfer structure may be designed to transfer
loads from the super-structure to the columns
of the car park substructure. In this case,
it is important that the superstructure is
sufficiently light so that the transfer
structure is not made deeper – increasing
foundation costs.
7.5m 5.4m 7.5m
4.8m
6.7m
Façade materials and finish
External brickwork cladding with a light steel stud
inner skin is assumed for the steelwork designs,
although a variety of façade materials may be used. 5.0 m
(Ground supported brickwork is not practical above
four storeys.)
Figure 3.3 Structural grid as dictated by
car park level.
19
Slimdek® residential pattern book The application of Slimdek®
Plan form and room layouts
Two plan forms are considered, which are
presented in the following illustrations:
1. A deep plan form with apartments on either
side of a central corridor.
2. A shallow plan with apartments across the
full depth of the building.
The building is extendable horizontally by
repeating the shallow plan form, although
with the deep plan form it is possible to serve
three units with only two stairs or lift areas (see
Figure 3.4).
Figure 3.4 Repeatable floor plan with three units sharing two lift/stair areas.
20
Deep plan form
The deep plan form has the following features:
● Columns are located at 7.5m and 5.4m along
the façade.
● Columns are located at 5.0m, 6.7m and 4.8m
across the plan form of the building.
● A 2.1m-wide corridor is provided along the
building.
● Columns are generally located in the
300mm-wide separating walls between
apartments.
● An alternative lift location may be
introduced (see Figure 3.10).
● The ratio of habitable:gross floor area is
about 85% per residential floor.
● Apartments of approximately 50m2 and
65m2 floor area are provided, which are
each suitable for two and four people
respectively.
● A total of 14 car parking spaces is provided
(including two disabled spaces) for the five
residential and penthouse levels. The car
parking lies fully within the building depth.
● The penthouse level is accessed via the
stairs and provides two 68m2 apartments,
each suitable for four people.
● A retail area of 880m2 is provided.
Shallow plan form
The shallow plan form has the following
features:
● Columns are located at 7.2m and 6.3m along
the façade.
● Columns are located at 3.9m, 7.2m and 4.8m
across the plan form.
● Columns are all located in the separating
walls between apartments.
● Three apartments are accessed directly from
each stair/lift area on each residential floor.
● The ratio of habitable:gross floor area is
about 85% per residential floor.
● Apartments of approximately 50 and 75m2
floor area are provided, which are suitable
for two and four people respectively.
● A total of 13 car parking spaces are provided
(including two disabled or wide spaces) for
the five residential and penthouse levels.
The car parking projects 3.9m to the rear of
the building.
● A retail area of 640m2 is provided.
● The penthouse level is accessed via the
stairs and provides two 73m2 apartments,
each suitable for four people.
 1 BED FLAT 1 BED FLAT

Kitchen/ Bedroom Bedroom Kitchen/

dining/living dining/living

Bedroom Bedroom Kitchen/ Kitchen/ Bedroom Bedroom

dining/living dining/living

2 BED FLAT 2 BED FLAT

Figure 3.5 Deep plan form – Layout of apartments.

2 BED FLAT 2 BED FLAT

Bedroom Bedroom Bedroom Bedroom

Kitchen/ Kitchen/ Bedroom Kitchen/

dining/living dining/living dining/living

1 BED FLAT

Figure 3.6 Shallow plan form – Layout of apartments.

21
Slimdek® residential pattern book The application of Slimdek®

Figure 3.7 Deep plan form – car parking level.

Retail Unit Retail Unit

Figure 3.8 Deep plan form – layout of retail level.

22
 Bedroom Bedroom Kitchen/ Kitchen/ Bedroom Bedroom
Dining/Living Dining/Living

2 BED FLAT 2 BED FLAT

Figure 3.9 Deep plan form – penthouse level.

2 BED FLAT 1 BED FLAT

Bedroom Kitchen/ Bedroom Kitchen/

dining/living dining/living

Bedroom Bedroom Kitchen/ Bedroom Kitchen/

dining/living dining/living

2 BED FLAT 1 BED FLAT

Figure 3.10 Deep plan form – layout of apartments for alternative lift location.

23
Slimdek® residential pattern book The application of Slimdek®
Floor layout
The structural layout of the floor in both plan
forms comprises 280 ASB beams spanning up
to 7.5m, and a deep composite slab spanning
up to 7.5m between the beams (spans in
excess of 6m require temporary propping in
normal-weight concrete). The slab depth is
nominally 300mm. Shallow decking may be
supported off the bottom flanges to create a
shallow slab in the core area, providing an
additional zone for servicing within the floor.
Structural options
The various structural layouts of the building
are presented in Figures 3.11 to 3.15. In a
braced frame, longitudinal bracing is provided
at suitable locations in the façade, depending
on fenestration positions and sizes. Bracing
locations can be difficult to design in highly
glazed façades.
The advantage of a wind-moment frame
design is that vertical bracing can be omitted
in the longitudinal direction of the building,
which allows full-height glazing to be used
throughout. Alternatively, vertical bracing has
to be located between columns in separating
walls, in the façade, or around the core.
The disadvantage of the wind-moment frame
option is that it is not generally appropriate for
buildings of more than six storeys, and
columns are often heavier than in a braced-
frame design. Moment continuity is achieved
by using extended end plates welded to the
ASB or RHS beams.
24
Tie members (generally in the form of Tees) are
provided parallel to the decking, in the
absence of the ASB beams. At the perimeter of
the buildings, ASB beams or RHS sections with
a welded plate may be used. The centre-line of
the ASB beams is offset by 200mm from the
edge of the slab to allow for access of the edge
trim (see Figure 2.6). The connection is detailed
as in Figure 3.16. Alternative details not
requiring this eccentricity, but requiring
additional fire protection to the exposed ASB,
are presented in Figures 2.7 and 3.17. The
equivalent detail of an RHS edge beam to a
RHS column is not eccentric, as shown in
Figure 3.18. For this reason, RHS edge beams
are preferred.
At internal columns using smaller RHS sections,
the ASB will project outside the column, in
which case bolted connections may be made
to plates welded to the RHS, as shown in
Figure 3.19.
The columns are detailed to be located within
a 300mm separating wall, which consists of
two 100mm C-sections with a 40mm gap, and
two layers of fire-resisting plasterboard. The
maximum column width is therefore 200mm
(i.e. 203 UKC or 200 x 200 RHS or 300 x 200
RHS). If the column size is increased to 254
UKC, an intumescent coating should be used
to provide adequate fire resistance. Where
columns align with partitions, exposed RHS
columns may be used, which are fire protected
by intumescent coating or filled with concrete.
An example of the use of RHS columns located
in a light steel separating wall is illustrated in
Figure 3.20.
 7500 7500 5400 7500

20

20
20

3U S

3U S
3U S

KC 355

KC 355
KC 355
280 ASB 74

46

46
46
280 ASB 100 or 204 UKC 52 + plate 280 ASB 100
or 254 UKC 89 + plate or 254 UKC 89 + plate

20 355
Stair Lift

254 x 146 UKB31

3U
S

203 UKC 46 + plate

KC
@20 kg/m S275

46
280 ASB 74

S275

280 ASB 74 or
165 x 152T

4800
280 ASB 74
20

20

20
152x89 I
3U S

3U S

3U S
CF51
KC 355

KC 355

KC 355
86

71

52
280 ASB 100 CF51 254 x 146 UKB31 280 ASB 100
S275
Void

20 355
152x89 I

3U
S

2200
CF51

KC

or 203 UKC 52 + plate

with anchored re-bars
71
@20 kg/m S275
165 x 152T

280 ASB 74
280 ASB 74
300 deep
P P

6700
NWC slab

280 ASB 74

280 ASB 74
on CF225
decking 20 CF225

20
20

20
3U S

3U S
3U S

3U S
KC 355

KC 355
KC 355

KC 355
71

52
86

71
280 ASB 100 280 ASB 74 280 ASB 100

203 UKC 46 + plate

@20 kg/m S275

@20 kg/m S275

@20 kg/m S275

280 ASB 74 or
165 x 152T

165 x 152T

165 x 152T

5000
20
20

20
20
3U S
3U S

3U S
3U S
KC 355
KC 355

KC 355
KC 355

280 ASB 74
46
46

46
46

280 ASB 100 or 203 UKC 60 + plate 280 ASB 100

or 254 UKC 89 + plate or 254 UKC 89 + plate

P = Decking propped at construction stage

Figure 3.11
Structural layout for deep plan building – ASB edge beams and UKC columns.

7500 7500 5400 7500

20
20

20
20

3U S
3U S

3U S
3U S

KC 355
KC 355

KC 355
KC 355

46

280 ASB 74 or
46

46
46

280 ASB 74 203 UKC 46 + plate 280 ASB 74

with anchored re-bars with anchored re-bars
Lift
254 x 146 UKB31

or 203 UKC 46 + plate Stair or 203 UKC 46 + plate

or 254 UKC89 + plate
S275

P P
280 ASB 74

280 ASB 74

280 ASB 74

4800
280 ASB 74
20

20
20

CF51 CF51
3U S

3U S
3U S

KC 355

KC 355
KC 355

71

52
86

165 x 152 T 254 x 146 UKB31 165 x 152 T

@20 kg/m S275 S275 @20 kg/m S275
Void
20 355
3U
S
152x89 I

2200
CF51

KC
71

or 254 UKC107 + plate

300 deep
NWC slab
on CF225 280 ASB 74
280 ASB 100
280 ASB 100

280 ASB 100

decking P
6700
280 ASB 100

P
CF225
20

20

20
3U S

3U S

3U S
KC 355

KC 355

KC 355
86

71

52

165 x 152 T 165 x 152 T 165 x 152 T

@20 kg/m S275 @20 kg/m S275 @20 kg/m S275
20 355
3U
S

or 254 UKC89 + plate

KC
71

P P
280 ASB 74

280 ASB 74

280 ASB 74

280 ASB 74

4800
20
20

20
20
3U S
3U S

3U S
3U S
KC 355
KC 355

KC 355
KC 355
46
46

46
46

280 ASB 74 280 ASB 74 280 ASB 74

with anchored re-bars or 203 UKC 46 + plate with anchored re-bars
or 203 UKC 46 + plate or 203 UKC 46 + plate

P = Decking propped at construction stage

Figure 3.12
Structural layout for deep plan building – ASB edge beams and UKC columns - propped.

25
Slimdek® residential pattern book The application of Slimdek®

7500 7500 5400 7500

20
25
25

0x
0x
0x

20
15
15

0x
0x
0x

10
8.0 S3
8.0 S3

.0 S35
250 x 150 x 8.0 RHS
RH 55
RH 55

RH 5
S
S

S
300 x 200 x 8.0 RHS + plate S355 300 x 200 x 8.0 RHS
+ plate S355 + plate S355

25 355
254 x 146 UKB31
Stair Lift

0x
S

250 x 150 x 6.3 RHS

15
@20 kg/m S275

+plate S355
0x
S275
165 x 152T

8.0
RH

4800
280 ASB 74

20
150 x 90 I
20

30

0x
0x

0x

280 ASB 74

20
20

20

CF51

0x
0x

0x

152 x 89 I

10
12

10

.0 S35
CF51
.5 S35

.0 S35

RH 5
RH 5

RH 5

280 ASB 100 280 ASB 100

S
280 ASB 74
S

Void
150 x 90 I

30 355
0x
S

2200
CF51

20
0
x1

250 x 150 x 6.3 RHS

@20 kg/m S275

0.0

+plate S355
165 x 152T

RH
280 ASB 74
300 deep
S
NWC slab P P

6700
280 ASB 74

280 ASB 74

on CF225
decking
CF225
20

30

20
30
0x

0x

0x
0x
20

20

20
20
0x

0x

0x
0x
12

10

10
10
.5 S35

.0 S35

.0 S35
.0 S35
RH 5

RH 5

RH 5
RH 5
S

S
S

280 ASB 100 280 ASB 74 280 ASB 100

250 x 150 x 6.3 RHS

@20 kg/m S275

@20 kg/m S275

@20 kg/m S275

+plate S355
165 x 152T

165 x 152T

165 x 152T

5000
20
25

25

25

0x
0x

0x

0x

20
15

15

15

0x
0x

0x

0x

10
8.0 S3

8.0 S3

8.0 S3

.0 S35
RH 55

RH 55

RH 5
RH 55
S

300 x 200 x 8.0 RHS 250 x 150 x 8.0 RHS 300 x 200 x 8.0 RHS
S

+ plate S355 + plate S355 + plate S355

P = Decking propped at construction stage

Figure 3.13 Structural layout for deep plan building – RHS edge beams and
RHS columns as a wind moment frame option.

26
 2700 2100

15
2U S
KC 355
30
254 x 146 UKB31
S275 Lift

15 355
Stair

2U
S
254 x 146 UKB31

2000
254 x 146 UKB31
203x133 UKB25

KC
30
S275

3900
S275

S275

20
20

20

3U S
3U S

3U S

1900
KC 355
KC 355

KC 355

46
86

46
280 ASB 74 280 ASB 74 280 ASB 74
with anchored re-bars with anchored re-bars

1000
20 355
or 203 UKC 71 + plate or 203 UKC 71 + plate

3U
S
203x133 UKB25

KC
Riser

46
S275

with anchored re-bars

300 deep

2300
or 254 UKC + plate
slab on
CF225
280 ASB 136

280 ASB 100

280 ASB 100

280 ASB 100

decking

7200
280 ASB 74
P P

20

20

20
20

3U S

3U S

3U S
3U S

KC 355

KC 355

KC 355
KC 355

86

86

52
86

165 x 152T 280 ASB 74 165 x 152T

@20 kg/m S275 @20 kg/m S275

254 UKC73 + plate

280 ASB 74 or
P
280 ASB 74

280 ASB 74

280 ASB 74

4800
20
20

20

3U S
3U S

3U S
20

KC 355
KC 355

KC 355
3U S

46
46

46
KC 355

280 ASB 74 280 ASB 74 280 ASB 74

46

with anchored re-bars with anchored re-bars with anchored re-bars

or 203 UKC 52 + plate or 203 UKC 52 + plate or 203 UKC 52 + plate

1200 4800 1200

6300 7200 6300

P = Decking propped at construction stage

Figure 3.14
Structural layout for shallow plan building – ASB edge beams and UKC columns.
15
0x

2700 2100
15
0x
6.3 S3
RH 55

254 x 146 UKB31

S

15 355

S275 Lift
Stair
0x
S
254 x 146 UKB31

254 x 146 UKB31

15

2000
203 x 133 UKB25

0 x6
25

20
25

.3
S275
0x

0x
S275

3900
0x

S275

RH
15

20
S
15
0x

0x
0x
10

10

1900
8.0 S3
.0 S35

.0 S35
RH 5

RH 5
RH 55
S

S
S

250 x 150 x 10.0 RHS 280 ASB 74 250 x 150 x 10.0 RHS
+ plate + plate
1000
25 355
203 x 133 UKB25

0x
S

15

Riser
0

300 deep
S275

x8

NWC slab
.0

2300
RH

300 x 200 x 12.5 RHS

on CF225
S
280 ASB 136

280 ASB 100

280 ASB 100

decking
+ plate

7200

280 ASB 74
P P
20

20
30
0x

0x
0x
20

20
20
0x

0x
0x
12

10
12
.5 S35

.0 S35
.5 S35
RH 5

RH 5
RH 5
S

S
S

280 ASB 74 280 ASB 74 280 ASB 74

30 355
0x
S

300 x 200 x 6.3 RHS

20
0x
12

P
+ plate
280 ASB 74

280 ASB 74

280 ASB 74

.5
RH

20

4800
25

25

25

0x
S
0x

0x

0x

20
15

15

15

0x
0x

0x

0x

10
8.0 S3

8.0 S3

8.0 S3

.0 S35
RH 55

RH 5
RH 55

RH 55
S

S
S

250 x 150 x 10.0 RHS 250 x 150 x 10.0 RHS 250 x 150 x 10.0 RHS
+ plate + plate + plate
1200 4800 1200

6300 7200 6300

P = Decking propped at construction stage

Figure 3.15
Structural layout for shallow plan building – RHS edge beams and RHS columns
acting as wind moment frame.

27
Slimdek® residential pattern book The application of Slimdek®

280 ASB 136

320 x 180
x 12thk plate

203 UKC 86
Column
120

80 120
4 No. M 20
bolts

200
300 x 200 x 12 thk
ASB end plate
4 No. M20
g8.8 bolts

80

120

300 x 300
x 15 thk plate

280 ASB 74
edge beam

120

Figure 3.16 ASB connection to edge column (showing eccentric detail).

280 ASB 136

320 x 200
x 12thk plate

203 UKC 86
Column
140

80 120
4 No. M 20
bolts

300 x 200 x 12 thk

ASB end plate
4 No. M20
g8.8 bolts

80

120

280 ASB 74
edge beam

31.5 120

Figure 3.17 ASB connection to edge column (no eccentricity).

28
 320 x 200 280 ASB 136
x 12thk plate

250 x 150 x 10 thk

RHS column
120

80 120
4 No. M 20
Hollo-bolts

M20 Hollo-bolts
50 in 33 O
/ holes

40

280 ASB 136

250 x 150 x 6.3 thk
RHS Slimflor® beam
and 15 mm thk plate

170 x 430
x 12 thk plate

10 70 100

(min.)

Figure 3.18 RHS edge beam connection to RHS column.

200 Facade line Facade line

50 50 50 100

50 80
20 mm
dia. bolt

300 300 Flowdrill

200 150 bolt holes
(20 mm dia.)

360 300
200 200

(a) Column on centre-line of edge beam (c) Column along facade line

Facade line Facade line

ASB ASB
12

Tie beam 12 Tie beam

cut from 50 cut from 50
457 x 191 UKB 457 x 191 UKB
100 SHS column 100

Seating plate Seating plate

welded between welded between
end plates end plates

(c) Plan on column in (a) (d) Plan on column in (b)

Figure 3.19 ASB bolted connections to RHS column.

29
Slimdek® residential pattern book The application of Slimdek®

A typical detail of a light steel separating wall

Mineral wool insulation
at a RHS column is illustrated in Figure 3.20.
The wall thickness is 300mm when using a 12 mm fire
resisting board
200 x 200 RHS column. The wall thickness will 19 mm plank
increase if larger columns are used.

30 mm thick
Material usage dense mineral
wool board
The typical steel usage for a six-storey building 100
(relative to the gross floor area) is:
200 x 200
SHS column
38 300
● Beams 32-38kg/m2
● Columns 7-10kg/m2

● Bracing, secondary beams 1-3kg/m2 100

The precise values for the various structural

options are presented in Table 3.1. A steel
weight of 40-45kg/m2 may be used for scheme
Figure 3.20 Detail of separating wall at RHS column.
design using Slimdek®, increasing to 50kg/m2
for more complex building shapes.

Table 3.1 Summary of steel weights kg/m2 for various structural options.
The structural arrangement can be adapted to
Building Beams Edge Columns Bracing Structural weights (kg/m2) Total
any sensible plan form.
Options Beams Beams Columns Bracing kg/m2

ASB ASB UKC Braced 33 7 1 41

It is apparent that the weight increase in the Shallow
steel structure is negligible for this six-storey Plan Wind
Form ASB RHS RHS moment 35 8 – 43
building when designing using the ‘wind frame
moment’ principle. However, the connections Braced -
may be more complex. ASB ASB UKC slab span 33 8 1 42
longitudunal
Braced -
The self-weight of the 300mm-deep composite ASB ASB UKC slab span 39 8 1 48
Deep
slab is 350kg/m2 in normal weight concrete, transverse
Plan
which requires propping during construction Form Wind
for spans in excess of 6m. However, the ASB ASB UKC moment 39 8 - 47
frame
self-weight is reduced to 280kg/m2 when
Wind
lightweight concrete is used, which does not ASB RHS RHS moment 38 9 - 47
require propping for spans of up to 6.3m. frame

30
Steel balconies and parapets
Balconies and terraces are important additions to modern urban living,
which often require interesting architectural solutions.
In conventional concrete construction, the slab
is continued outside the building envelope to
form a balcony or other projection. However,
this is no longer the preferred solution
because of the need to prevent ‘cold bridging’
through the slab, to meet the new Part L
Building Regulations. It is now necessary to
provide a ‘thermal break’ in the slab, or to
insulate it externally.
Types of balcony
Modern balconies are usually prefabricated
steel units, which are attached to the internal
structure by brackets or through posts, so that
‘thermal bridging’ effects can be minimised.
The three generic balcony systems are In the first case, no vertical load is transferred
detailed below: to the structure or façade of the building, but
the modules are attached to the structure for
1. Stacked ground-supported modules, which horizontal restraint. In the second case, the size
may be installed as a group by lifting into of the balcony is limited in order to reduce the
place. The columns extend to ground level. moments that are transferred to the internal
structure. In the third case, the ties can be
2. Cantilever balconies, achieved by either: relatively unobtrusive but vertical ties will
- Moment connections to brackets attached require a projecting structure such as a roof
to torsionally stiff edge beams. truss, to carry the loads on all the balconies.
- Moment connections to ‘wind-posts’
connected between adjacent floors.
3. Tied balconies achieved by either:
- Ties back to wind-posts or to the floor
above.
- Vertical ties to a supporting structure
located at roof level.

Figure 4.1 Steel balconies attached to curved edge beam in Slimdek® at Harlequin Court, London (Goddard Manton Architects).

31
Slimdek® residential pattern book Steel balconies and parapets

Balcony attachments in Slimdek®
In Slimdek®, RHS edge beams are torsionally
very stiff and are recommended for
cantilever attachments of balconies, where
brackets are welded to them. To minimise
‘cold bridging’, a single bracket at each side
of the balcony should be used.
Wind-posts may be bolted to the top and
bottom of ASB edge beams or to fin plates
welded to RHS edge beams. They are
designed to resist moments developed by
the cantilever balcony and can be relatively
large. Again, RHS sections may be
preferred. The attachment of balconies to a
curved façade in Slimdek® is illustrated in
Figure 4.1.
Details of various forms of attachment of The same principles may be followed for
balconies to RHS and ASB edge beams are other types of balconies, such as where RHS
illustrated in Figure 4.2 and Figure 4.3. They posts are introduced to which the balconies
are designed to minimise ‘cold bridging’. are attached.  In this case, fins are welded
to the post rather than to the beams to
The support of a tied steel balcony to ASB minimise ‘cold bridging’. A cantilever
edge beams is illustrated in Figure 4.4. The attachment may be made using steel
fin plate welded to the ASB provides a direct ferrules to the sides of RHS edge beams, as
attachment both for the balcony and for in Figure 4.5.
the tie to the balcony below, and minimises
‘cold bridging’. Torsional effects are resisted
by the continuity effect of the slab, when
the deck ribs are orientated as in this figure.
When the deck ribs are orientated parallel
to the ASB, and it is merely acting as a
cladding support, torsional effects should
be taken into consideration in the design of
the beam.

Facade line Cut in

50 200 edge trim
Slab level

Bolted connection

a) Bracket connection to ASB b) Longitudinal view of bracket

Figure 4.2 Bracket attachment to ASB edge beam.

Facade line Facade line

a) Pre-welded cantilevers b) Bracket or fin attachment

Figure 4.3 Cantilever or fin attachments to RHS edge beams.

32
Figure 4.4 Detail of attachment of tied balcony in Slimdek®. Figure 4.5 Cantilever balcony attachment in Slimdek®.

33
Slimdek® residential pattern book Steel balconies and parapets

4.3 Parapets and balustrades Figure 4.6 shows a steel balustrade directly Figure 4.7 shows a parapet wall directly
connected to a steel channel section, which connected by a steel angle or channel to
Parapets and balustrades often pose
is attached by a welded fin plate to a fin the top flange of the ASB. Bolts can be
particular technical issues because of the
plate connected to the ASB. This detail pre-attached to the top flange to receive
need to resist lateral forces and hence
ensures continuity of the insulation in the stub columns (normally RHS) at, say, 1200
torsional effects on the edge beam, and
‘warm roof’ and in the cladding. Because of mm centres. Light steel infills may be used
also to avoid ‘cold bridging’ through the
the relatively weak torsional stiffness of the between these stub columns. The external
slab.
channel section, it is recommended that the brickwork is held in place by wall ties, and
fin plates are spaced at not more than 2m the top bricks by an exposed angle.
Two examples are illustrated.
along the beam.

Colourcoat steel coping

Galvanised Angle at top of posts

steel balustrade

Single ply membrane 18 mm ply or blu-clad or

bonded to metal flashing similar board faced with
vapour permeable membrane

Walkway tile Steel posts @ 1200 centres

Insulation Colourcoat cladding to

external face of parapet
Screed laid to falls
Insulation
Aluminium
flashing
Angle attached to top of
beam by pre-fixed bolts

Steel channel
Single ply membrane
section exposed
visually
(or simply roofing
membrane)
on insulation on
screed to falls

Steel fin plate welded

to beam to provide
support to channel section
Facing brick/ (max. 2 m centres)
masonry
external leaf Insulation (passing both
sides of fin plate)
2 layers plasterboard on
light steel framing

Figure 4.6 Detail of balustrade attachment in Slimdek®.  Figure 4.7 Detail of parapet wall attachment in Slimdek®. 

34
References Support for the
construction industry
from Tata Steel
Sources of information Guidance on the design and use of structural
Building Regulations 2003 – Approved Document E: sections and plates
Resistance to the passage of sound. Tata Steel provides free advice to the construction industry
The Stationery Office, 2003. covering all aspects of the design, specification and use of its range of
construction products.
Slimdek® Manual.
www.tatasteelconstruction.com Tata Steel manufactures structural sections and plates for building
Steel in multi-storey residential buildings (P332). and civil engineering applications. Advice is provided by our team
The Steel Construction Institute, 2004. of qualified engineers with extensive experience in the design and
construction of buildings and bridges.

Acoustic Detailing for Multi-Storey Residential Buildings. (P336).

The Steel Construction Institute, 2004 Specialist advice in fire engineering, durability and sustainability is also
available. Our regional network of engineers covers the whole of the
UK and Ireland and is supported by a dedicated design team based at
Design of Asymmetric Slimflor® Beams using Deep Composite
our manufacturing centre in Scunthorpe.
Decking (P175).
The Steel Construction Institute,1997.
General Enquiries on other products and systems manufactured by
Tata Steel will be routed to our Construction Centre who will direct you
Design of RHS Slimflor® Edge Beams (P169).
to the appropriate source of market and product expertise.
The Steel Construction Institute, 1997.

Tata Steel
Case studies on residential buildings using steel (P328).
Construction Services & Development
The Steel Construction Institute, 2003.

PO Box 1
Brigg Road
List of contributors Scunthorpe
Peter Lusby-Taylor - HTA Architects North Lincolnshire
Prof. Mark Lawson - The Steel Construction Institute DN16 1BP
Prof. Ray Ogden - Oxford Brookes University
Dr. Stephen Hicks - The Steel Construction Institute Construction hotline +44 (0) 1724 405060
Dr. Jim Rackham - The Steel Construction Institute Email: construction@tatasteel.com
Website: www.tatasteelconstruction.com

35
www.tatasteeleurope.com

While care has been taken to ensure that

the information contained in this brochure
is accurate, neither Tata Steel Europe Limited
nor its subsidiaries accept responsibility or
liability for errors or information which is
found to be misleading.

Copyright 2012
Tata Steel Europe Limited

References to British Standards are in

respect of the current versions and extracts
are quoted by permission of the British
Standards Institute from whom copies of the
full standard may be obtained.

Tata Steel
Construction Services & Development
PO Box 1
Brigg Road
Scunthorpe
North Lincolnshire
DN16 1BP
Construction hotline +44 (0) 1724 405060
E: construction@tatasteel.com
www.tatasteelconstruction.com

Tata Steel Europe is registered in England under number 05957565 with registered office at 30 Millbank, London SW1P 4WY
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